The last H145M lands with the Air Force.

Airbus Helicopters has delivered the 15th and final light multi-purpose helicopter of the H145M LUH SOF type to the Bundeswehr. The helicopters stationed in Laupheim will be used by the special forces of the Bundeswehr in operations. The Bundeswehr was the first customer to order a total of 15 of these high-performance models in 2013, and received the first helicopters in late 2015. With this final delivery, Airbus Helicopters has successfully completed the entire program within the specified time and budget. LUH SOF stands for "Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Special Operations Forces (SOF)", meaning "Light Utility Helicopter for Special Forces".

"The LUH SOF project is an excellent example of what constructive collaboration between the Bundeswehr, authorities, and industry can achieve," said Wolfgang Schoder, CEO of Airbus Helicopters Germany. "I thank all our partners for their efficient and successful cooperation, and I am pleased that we can continue to advance the implementation of other programs in this spirit. I send the best wishes to the Bundeswehr's special forces for the use of the new helicopters."

How the Bundeswehr's Special Forces Fly

The H145M is the military version of the proven twin-engine civilian helicopter H145, which was first delivered in 2014. The entire H145 fleet has now accumulated over 50,000 flight hours. With a maximum take-off weight of 3.7 tons, the agile H145M can be used for a wide range of tasks including transport, supply, surveillance, air rescue, armed reconnaissance, and medical evacuation. The H145M LUH SOF helicopters of the Bundeswehr are equipped with a rappelling system for special forces insertion, a high-performance camera system for reconnaissance, as well as equipment for fire support in operations, providing the special forces with a wide variety of new operational possibilities. Additionally, the new helicopter offers a high level of safety in operations with ballistic protection and an electronic self-defense system.

The helicopter was developed for operations during day and night, and under the most challenging conditions. It is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2E gas turbines, controlled by the FADEC system (full authority digital engine control). Furthermore, the helicopter is equipped with the Helionix digital avionics suite, providing innovative flight data management as well as a powerful 4-axis autopilot, significantly reducing the workload on the pilots during operations. Its particularly low noise emissions make the H145M the quietest helicopter in its class.

The images in the article are from the KSK demonstration on the "Day of the Bundeswehr" - HERE is the Photo File "Here comes the KSK".

In 2015, Airbus Helicopters also signed a comprehensive cooperative service contract with the Bundeswehr, regulating industry support until at least 2021. Airbus Helicopters' duties include the organization and execution of maintenance and repair work, the supply of spare parts, and ensuring flight readiness. The more than 3,900 flight hours already completed demonstrate the effectiveness of the chosen support concept, the good cooperation, and the reliability of the aircraft.

"It has been shown that this form of performance-based support makes a significant contribution to the high availability of the system for the troops," said Wolfgang Schoder. "This close collaboration between industry and operator has proven successful in the civilian sector and is becoming increasingly important for military customers. There is still potential that we can realize together with the Bundeswehr."

The Republic of Serbia has ordered nine H145M helicopters, and Thailand has ordered five.

Image: PMA-ODAL/Marc Friedrich

About Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space, and related services. The revenue was €67 billion in 2016, with approximately 134,000 employees. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of commercial aircraft with 100 to over 600 seats. The company is the European market leader in tanker, combat, transport, and mission aircraft. Airbus is the European number 1 and the world number 2 in the space sector. Airbus helicopters, both civilian and military, are known for their high efficiency and are in demand worldwide.

AIRBUS on the Internet: www.airbus.com